Spinal curves and posture

Lordoses and kyphoses, sagittal balance, scoliosis, hyperkyphosis and hyperlordosis: why a curved spine resists better.

The outline, topic by topic

Each topic is weighted the way the exam weighs it.

Lordosis: what is it?
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A curve concave to the back, in the neck and lower back.
It appears with head control, then walking.
The spinal curves, from head to pelvis: which step comes after "Cervical lordosis"?
- Thoracic kyphosis
- Lumbar lordosis
- Sacral kyphosis
- Coccyx
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Thoracic kyphosis
Four alternating curves, then the coccyx.
Kyphosis: what is it?
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A curve convex to the back, in the chest and sacrum.
They are the primary curves, already present in the fetus.
Bending forward, a pupil shows a hump on one side of the back. What to suspect?
- A structural scoliosis, with vertebral rotation
- A simple hyperlordosis
- A harmless postural scoliosis
- A thoracic hyperkyphosis
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A structural scoliosis, with vertebral rotation
The hump reveals rotation: it is Adams' test.